Embroidery is my life

Buthaina Ibrahim Al-Youssef, who is 61 years old, the second generation of the Palestinian stateless refugee, in addition to her daughter, Alaa, 23 years old. Both are living in Ein Helwe refugee camp in Saida city, Lebanon, and embroider for Roouh. Both are from Arab Gwer Palestinian village, Tiberias District.

Buthaina started embroidery when she 8 years old. She used to sit with other refugee women and her mother after coming from the school to learn embroidery. It took me years to be able to master it and build my expertise to the point that I can say “Embroidery become my life and pride. Something that nobody can take it from me, my heart, mind and soul”.

Buthaina has more than 50 years of making embroidering. Even, she started to teach other women it at one of the local NGOs in the camp, called Njadah and engaged in different workshops by associations within the camp to teach other women and generations the art of embroidering.

She taught her daughter, Alaa, who is helping her in her work and get to learn this art.

Recently, she produced most of outstanding Roouh’s products and textiles.

Al-Youssef’s the mother and the daughter is to be replicated to all the women across the camps who are working with Roouh.

It is the story and journey of these women across ages and generations.